Rockets beat Lakers, force Game 6 behind Jabari Smith, Reed Sheppard

The Houston Rockets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 99-93 on April 30, 2026, forcing a Game 6 in their playoff series. Jabari Smith Jr. led Houston with 22 points, while LeBron James topped all scorers with 25 points but shot just 9-for-20 from the field. The Lakers struggled offensively, shooting only 42.1% from the field and 25.9% from three-point range.